KYRA KOTHAWALA
Job Title: Mechanical Engineer-Power Generation
Company: Commonwealth Associates
Location: Jackson, Mich.
Age: 25
Years on the Job: 2.5
Interests: Reading, writing, crocheting, playing guitar, electric bass, and piano, and participating in sand volleyball, pickleball, basketball, and boxing. She also enjoys spending time with friends and traveling.
Kyra Kothawala developed a passion for engineering and design in high school as a member of a FIRST robotics team. “I was surrounded by mechanical, electrical, and computer science engineers, so I was able to observe and participate in all disciplines,” Kothawala says.
Born and raised in Michigan, she earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, where she participated in the Society of Women Engineers. She also interned at a water solution company/pump manufacturer as well as Commonwealth Associates, where she accepted a full-time offer after graduation. “The people were incredible, the projects were interesting, and I felt challenged,” she says. “This was the start of my electrical industry journey.”
In her current role, she has continued to learn from her team in the power generation department. “Since the beginning, they’ve provided a safe and inclusive environment where I’m always encouraged to ask questions, dive into projects, and discuss with senior level engineers,” she says.
As a mechanical engineer II, she works remotely and says every day is different depending on what project she’s working on and what stage the project is in. She works on various types of systems like condensate, boiler feedwater, steam safety vents, ammonia, main steam, instrument air, and water services. Her favorite part of her current role is the ability to always be working on new materials.
“Being in consulting, every project is different for every client,” she says. “Occasionally, there may be some overlap, but a lot of the time I’m learning about new systems or design conditions and how everything works together for each project.”
During her career, she has worked on a variety of different projects, including combined heat and power plants, battery energy storage systems, plant upgrades/retrofits/modifications, high-energy piping and condition assessments, and water supply and treatment systems.
